Tool for cleaning tile and grout

ABSTRACT

A tile and grout cleaning tool that can be turned over to place either a first series of bristle bundles projecting from the head of the tool in position to clean tile surfaces or a second series of bristle bundles spaced from the first series in position to clean the grout between tiles, the second series of bristle bundles comprising bristles that can be pressed into the grout channels and have ends of different lengths that form rough cleaning surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to cleaning devices, and moreparticularly to a hand-manipulated tool for cleaning uneven surfaces oftile floors and walls and the grout between the tiles.

2. Background Information

It is well known that it is difficult to adequately clean the surfacesof rough tile, such as stone, tile and the like, and the recessed, roughgrout between the tiles. Because of this difficulty, many differenttypes of cleaning implements ranging from machines with power drivenbrushes to hand manipulated brushes with fixed bristles have beenproposed in the past. Many of the known implements have beenspecifically designed to clean either tile or grout, and are not usefulto clean both tile and grout in an acceptable and easily used manner.

The use of hand brushes intended to enter and clean channels of grouttypically require the user to wear gloves and exert considerable effortto accomplish an acceptable cleaning result. Long-handled cleaningbrushes have been awkward to manipulate while maintaining the brushelements in contact with the tile grout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a single, easily usedtool that makes it possible to clean tile and the grout between thetiles in an improved manner.

The tile and grout cleaning tool of the invention generally comprises afirst series of bristle bundles adapted to clean tile surfaces in oneposition of the tool and a second series of bristle bundles adapted toclean the grout between the tiles in another position of the tool.

In a specifically disclosed embodiment, the tool has a cylindrical headthat carries rows of tile cleaning bristle bundles extending lengthwiseof the head around a first section of its periphery. Arrays of groutcleaning bristle bundles are spaced lengthwise of the head around asecond section of its periphery. The grout cleaning bristle bundlescomprise bristles that have the flexibility to permit them to be pressedinto grout channels between tiles and ends of unequal lengths that formuneven grout cleaning surfaces.

In order to maintain the grout cleaning bristles in the recessed groutchannels when the tool is pushed and pulled, the bristles may bearranged in diamond shaped arrays. Each diamond shaped array presentspointed, leading ends which enable the grout cleaning bristles to stayin the channels of grout with little effort by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a foreshortened perspective view of the tile and groutcleaning tool of invention;

FIG. 2 an elevational view of the tool head;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken in the plane 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the tool in one operative/position;and

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the tool in its second operativeposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the tile and grout cleaning tool of theinvention is generally designated by reference numeral 10. The tool 10comprises a cylindrical head 11 and a long, extended handle 12 formanipulating the tool. As most clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a firstseries of bristle bundles 13 are arranged in rows extending lengthwiseof the head 11 around a first section 14 of its circumference, and asecond series of bristle bundles 20 extending along the length of thehead 11 around a second section 21 of its circumference.

The peripheral sections 14, 21 containing the bundles of bristles 13,20, respectively, are circumferentially spaced apart so that thebristles of bundles 13 can contact and clean the tile surfaces of tilefloors and walls in one position of the tool head shown in FIG. 5. Inanother position of the tool head 11 shown in FIG. 4, the bristles ofthe bundles 20 can enter the spaces between the tiles in order tocontact and clean the grout.

As most clearly shown in FIG. 3, the bristle bundles 20 form diamondshaped arrays 22. The diamond shaped arrays present pointed leading ends23 when the tool 10 is pushed and pulled across a tile floor or wall.The pointed ends 23 of the diamond shaped arrays 22 make it easy toengage and maintain the bristles in channels of grout between tiles. Theseveral diamond shape arrays 22 assure that an array will be engaged ina grout channel even though the tool is not pushed or pulled in astraight line cleaning stroke.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be seen that the bristle bundles 20are made up of individual bristles 30, the ends of which are of unevenlengths so that each bundle presents an uneven cleaning surface. Theuneven cleaning surfaces formed by the bristles 30 enhance the abilityof the tool 10 to clean the rough grout 31 between tiles as shown inFIG. 4. During manufacture, blind holes are drilled into the head 11 forreceiving the bristles 30. The bristles 30 are laid across the holes andare engaged between their ends by punches that press the bristles downinto the blind holes. This operation results in the bristles 30extending from the head 11 in different random lengths.

The tile cleaning bristle bundles 13, which can be made in the samemanner as the bristle bundles 20, are closely spaced along the head 11and form a compact brush portion suitable for cleaning the surfaces ofmultiple tiles. The close spacing of the bristles of the bundles 13 makethese bristles stiff enough to resist being pressed into the groutchannels. As compared to the rows of tile cleaning bristle bundles 13,the bristles 30 of the bundles 20 are more widely spaced apart toprovide flexability so that they can be pressed into grout channels whenthe tool 10 is in the position shown in FIG. 4.

In use, the handle 12 is manipulated to place the bristles projectingfrom a selected one of the sections 14, 21 into cleaning contact witheither tile or grout. FIG. 5 shows the bristle bundles 13 in position toclean tile surfaces, while the bristle bundles 20 are out of contactwith the grout between the tiles. The tool is then pushed or pulledacross the tile surfaces to affect a cleaning action. When it is desiredto clean the grout between the tiles, the tool head 14 is simply turnedover, end-for-end so as to place the bundles of bristles 20 in theposition shown in FIG. 4 to clean the grout.

It will be seen from the above that the invention accomplishes theobjective of providing a single tool for effectively cleaning both tileand grout. In one position of the tool, bristles specifically made toclean grout are brought into contact with the grout. The improved groutcleaning action is due in large part to the unequal lengths of thebristles 30 projecting from the toolhead, and can be enhanced byarranging the bristles in diamond shaped arrays shown in the drawings.In another position of the tool, the more closely spaced bristles of thebundles 13 form stiffer brush portion that can efficiently clean tilesurfaces.

Many variations and modifications of the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art in light of the detailed disclosure. Therefore,it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims,the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically shown anddescribed.

1. A tile and grout cleaning tool comprising: a head having first andsecond sections, said first section having straight rows of tilecleaning bristle bundles, said second section having arrays of groutcleaning bristle bundles, said first and second sections of said headbeing spaced from each other so that said head can be positioned tobring the bristles of a selected one of said sections into cleaningcontact with either tile or grout, and a handle attached to said headfor manipulating said tool.
 2. A tile and grout cleaning tool as claimedin claim 1, wherein at least some of said grout cleaning bristle bundleshave bristles that present uneven cleaning surfaces and are flexibleenough to permit said bristles to be pressed into grout channels betweentiles.
 3. A tile and grout cleaning brush as claimed in claim 1, whereinat least some of said arrays of grout cleaning bristle bundles presentpointed leading ends.
 4. A tile and grout cleaning tool as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said at lest some arrays of grout cleaning bristlebundles present pointed leading ends.
 5. A tile and grout cleaning toolcomprising: a cylindrical head having first and second circumferentialsections, said first section having rows of tile cleaning bristlebundles extending lengthwise of said head, said second section havingarrays of grout cleaning bristle bundles spaced along said head, atleast some of said arrays being made up of bristles having ends ofunequal length that form rough cleaning surfaces. said sections beingcircumferentially spaced apart so that the bristle bundles of a selectedsection can be brought into cleaning contact with tile or grout byturning said head over, and a handle attached to said head formanipulating said tool.
 6. A tile and grout cleaning tool as claimed inclaim 5 wherein said tile cleaning bristle bundles form a compact brusharea and resist being pressed into grout channels between tiles, andwherein the spacing of the bristles of said grout cleaning bundles allowthem to be pressed into the grout channels.
 7. A tile and grout cleaningtool comprising: a cylindrical head having first and secondcircumferential sections, rows of tile cleaning bristle bundlesprojecting extending from said first section lengthwise of said head,said second section having arrays of grout cleaning bristle bundlesspaced along said head, at least some of said arrays presenting pointedleading ends adapted to extend into a grout channel, said sections beingcircumferentially spaced apart so that the bristle bundles of a selectedsection can be brought into cleaning contact with tile or grout byturning said head over, and a handle attached to said head formanipulating said tool.
 8. A tile and grout cleaning tool as claimed inclaim 7, wherein said grout cleaning bristle bundles have bristles thatcan be pressed into grout channels between tiles and have ends ofdifferent lengths in order to present rough cleaning surfaces.
 9. A tileand grout cleaning tool as claimed in claim 8, wherein said arrays ofgrout cleaning bristle bundles are diamond shaped and present pointedleading ends when said tool is pushed and pulled.